The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-11
AUNT PENNIMAN.
Jeans Practical Idea, and It's Ro-
mantle Ending.

II was shimmering April day. with the
rain-drops of the last shower shining in the
sun when Jean drove over to the railroad
station, a mile away, to meet Aunt Penni-
man Meanwhile prepared a lunch of bis
cults, tea and dainty salad, and Laura
gave the finishing touches to the neat front
chamber, looping back the curtains and
filling her favorite green Japanese bowl
with fresh viOlets to adorn the dressing
table. We made dear mother put on her
best and sit in the pdrlOr to wait, for this was
4 great event for us, this coming of Aunt
Penniman. None Of US girls had ever seen
her, and neither had mother; but she was
fathers own aunt, and when he was alive
he had from time to time spoken of her.
We always understood that she had mar
ried into very wealthy and fashionable
family in distant city, and from thence
forth had never visited her old home. We
knew that she was left widow and child
less, and must now be quite an old lady.
When father died, leaving US with the
house, garden and two hundred dollars Il
year, you may imagine that we girls had to
awake out of our dreams and learn to be
practical. Jean became most practical of
all, and she had need to be, for she was en-
gagged to a young doctor. who had only one
or two patients to speak of, besides the
non-paying ones, and there were years in
terminabe to wait, unless something
''turned up" So jean bent all her wits to
the problem. Sne had schemes about rails
ing Strawberries and putting up green
houses; she thought of setting out celery
plants, and she talked of a dairy But all
this was mere skirmishing 1t added a
good deal to her general information, and
she made some pretty estimates on paper !;
but her real battles were fought in doing
all the marketing and shopping, all the max
ing and mending, and contriving costumes
ont of almost nothing. twas she who held
the family purse, kept the accounts, and
considered the taxes. Mother and did the
shOusework, and had three music scholars,
which helped not q little. Laura, our
youngest sister, was just out of school,
and not broken to the harness. Some
day she would teach or learn a trade.
or do copying or something but not yet.
She was fresh from school and in all the
glamour of girlhOod, and there is q time
to laugh and time to dance, as well as a
time for every thing else.
Well, we were not getting ahead any,
manage as we might, and two anxious little
wrinkles came to stay between jeans
bright eyes. She was always planning and
sschening, and one wild, rainy day when
saw her suddenly drop her work and go to
the writing-desk, knew fresh idea had
struck her. She wrote letter, and went
out in the storm to post it. We asked nc
questions, and she said nothing
But week later she flew in among us
triumphant, waving an open letter in her
hand.
'"She's coming she's comingm she ex
claimed. "Aunt Penniman is coming tC
live with us, and pay twelve dollars week
for her board! It's all my own idea.
wrote to her and told her how we were
situated, and invited her to make her home
with u.s. She's dear old lady, and our owr
great-aunt, and it will pay all our house
keeping expenses, and when she is i'll She
will call in Harry to doctor her! We shall
get along splendidly now. Just think
Aunt PenRiman is comingW
All mother could say was: "Why, Jear
FOlletti' while Laura and l sat speeches:
for moment, but only moment, and ther
we assailed Jean. How did she know bu
Aunt Penniman was a fretful, DISCONTINUED
old lady who would be a constant trial
How did she know she had money enough
To pay her board9 She might expect iellie
ana WINE ana game. one mlSnJ nave rneu
matism day and night, though indeed tina
might be why Jean had invited her, tina
Harry should have chance to show hi
skill
To all this Jean replied calmly that Aun
Penniman had written very sensible
friendly letter. had named her own rate o
board, had said she preferred plain living
but wanted to spend her last days amonI
her friends; and had more than limited tina
she would do something very handsome il
our favor if she made her nome with us.
1t was not hard to be persuaded, and w
were soon as full of hope as Jean. Mothe
rose to the occasion and planned all tn
arrangements of Aunt Penniman's room
gylAilc began to study up delightful littl
breakfasts
''rll be Aunt Penniman's maid ~ declares
laura "She will have gray hali, and
will dress it every day, and | will wrs'e he
letters and read to her. | think it will b
AGyely TO have an old lady in the house"